Cyprus LGBTI’s community marked its first civil union in a private
Nicosia ceremony on January 29, 2016, in a ceremony open only to
allies and friends of the couple.But while the event was largely a
private affair, dignity, commitment and celebration were very much on
show to those privileged enough to share the occasion. I was allowed
to photograph the couple (who desired anonymity to preserve privacy
in their professional spheres) as they chose garments for their special
day, partied on the eve of their union and basked in the aftermath of
the ceremony at the Nicosia District Office the day after. They quietly
stepped into the history books but the change they represented was
resounding. The island’s civil union law that was approved on
November 26, 2015, the fruit of a protracted, hard-won battle by the
island’s LGBTI lobby, marked one more step towards a progressive
society.
Stefanos Kouratzis (b. 1975, Athens, Greece) is a award-winning VisualStoryteller and the Artistic Director of Limassol Photography Festival for 2024.
Studied at Focus, School of Art Photography, (Athens, Greeece) and took online courses at MoMA (Museum of Modern Art, New York). He participated at the 16th Venice Biennale of Architecture in 2018, part of the Cyprus Pavilion (I Am Where You Are). The way he constantly explores Photography as medium, makes his work quite diverse, multidimensional and multilayered.
Awards 2022
The Gomma Photography Grant 2021
Finalist, Black and White Category
2018
PDN, Photo Annual, 2018
Winner, Category: Personal Project
2017
IPA, International Photography Awards, 2017
2nd Place, Category: Special –Other & Honorable mention in categories: Architecture/Interiors (x1), Architecture/Other (x1)
MIFA, Moscow International Foto Awards 2017
3nd Place Winner x 2 Categories : People/Wedding & Event/Wedding & Honorable Mention in categories: Fine Art/Abstract (1), Architecture/Interiors (x1)
PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris, 2017
Bronze Winner, Category: Portraiture/Wedding & Honorable Mention in categories: Fine Art/Abstract (x3), Advertising/Architecture (x2), Press/General News (x1)
2016
PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris
Silver Winner, Category: Nature/ Wildlife
MIFA, Moscow International Foto Awards 2016
2nd Place Winner, Category: Architecture-Industrial & Honorable Mention Category: Sports
2015
PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris
Third Prize (People's Choice), Category : Nature/Sky &
Honorable Mention, Category Fine Art/Abstract
2007
Pancyprian Photo Competition by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO)
1st Place, Category “Cyprus Gastronomy”
2004
Fujifilm Euro Press Awards 2004 – Cyprus
Winner in Categories “Nature and “Technique”
2002
Fujifilm Euro Press Awards 2002 – Cyprus
National Winner, Overall
Winner in Categories “News” and “Features”.
